Memorial Day weekend was a date awaited by many as the opening of the Fremont County Historical Center and Iowa’s Championship Rodeo Museum.
Seven years in the making, and with a class of 11 high school students enthusiastically bringing its final displays into being, it
is a place designed to honor the people, places and events that have made this part of Iowa special.
Recently two professors from the University of Wisconsin stopped by to visit the museum in progress. They were here to study the Loess Hills
so they could create a plan to promote the hills and their history and were pleased at what they learned in the new museum.
“Your role in the national history is far greater than many realize," they told their guides. “This area has the kind of stories that will bring
in people from all over the country. Wherever people live, not just close, they will find your history fascinating. They will come.”
We who live here should take pride in what we have and be glad we can now share it in an even greater way than ever before with others. Many volunteers
who care about the past of this part of Iowa have given items to the museum, or donated time to make the new museum a reality. Through it all, loyal volunteers
have kept plugging along, knowing that the goal of a new museum was a worthy one.
Visitors to the new museum this past weekend were happy to find a wide-ranging presentation of the history of our county. Building on the existing collections,
new exhibits show our past with clarity and accuracy.
This jewel of a museum has been developed by so many people, and artifacts have been donated through the years by so many who cared about preserving the areas’
history, that we can all be proud of what has come to pass.
The Wisconsin professors concluded their visit with the ringing words -- "YOU’VE GOT IT!” And they meant it sincerely.
As time goes by we will learn what we have and find it very rewarding to share it with as many as possible.
The Genealogy Research department of the museum is open by appointment.
The museum will be open regular hours every week, Tuesday through Sunday, 1:00 to 400 A modest fee will be charged: $4.00 for adults, $3.00 for seniors and military, $2.00 for students 17 to 11, and children under 11 are free.
Memorial Day weekend was a date awaited by many as the opening of the Fremont County Historical Center and Iowa’s Championship Rodeo Museum.
Seven years in the making, and with a class of 11 high school students enthusiastically bringing its final displays into being, it
is a place designed to honor the people, places and events that have made this part of Iowa special.
